Cooling-water regulator



March 24, 1931.

.1. LE VALLEY 'COOLING WATER REGULATOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 INVENTOR. 117 izleya'llty BY mum Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce JOHN LE VALLEY, or PAINTED ros'r, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 INGERSOLLRAND COM- I'ANY, or JERSEY CITY, new JERSEY, ACOR-PORATION or NEW JERSEY COOLING-WATER REGULATOR v Application filed December 1, 1927. Serial No. 236,989.

This invention relates to regulators, and

more particularly to regulators for controlling the supply of cooling water to the water jackets of air compressors and the like.

Vhile this invention has many applications, it is particularly desirable for use on compressors and such apparatus which are continuously operated preferably at aconstant speed, but which are arranged to be unloaded periodically. During such unloaded periods, there is relativelv little heat period of the compressor and to automatical- 1y turn on the supply of such water when the compressor is again loaded. 5 Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part point ed out hereinafter.

In the drawings acco-mpanylng the specification and in which similar reference characters referto similar parts, i

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a compressor provided with a cooling water regulating apparatus, constructed. in accordance with the practice of the invention, the water valve and controlling pilot valve being shown in longitudinal section, and

I Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the auxiliary valve which controls the pilot valve. v Referring to the drawing, the cooling water regulating apparatus is shown associated A with an air'c'ompr'ess'or A which is preferably of the type which is continuallyv operated from the constant speed motor (not shown) and which may be provided with unloading apparatus (not shown) of any suitable type f asiswell known to discontinue the out-put vfrom said compressor A when the pressure reaches a predetermined maximum. The

compressor A is adapted to deliver compressed air or othermotive fluid through a discharge pipe B to a receiver C. The compressor A is adapted to be cooled by water entering at a suitable supply pipe D.

The compressor A need only be cooled while it compressing air since when un loaded there is comparatively no heat developed. As is'usual, the compressor A is unloaded so that no air is compressed when the pressure in the receiver G reaches a pre-- determined 7 maximum and accordingly by this invention, the water is shut off by a water valve E when the pressure in the tank C reaches a predetermined maximum. The

valve E is interposed between the pipe D andthe water supply pipe line 'F. p

The water valve'E includes an outer casing G having a water passage H communicating with the pipes D and F. A wall-J is provided in the passage H'having an aperture K forming a seat for a longitudinally movable poppet type valve L normally pressed to its 7 seat by a coil spring 0 interposed between the valve L and a pipe plug P screwed into a central aperture Q in'the casing G. The valve L is provided with a stem R extending through a boss 8 in the upper wall T of the water passage H and is guided thereby. At its end the stem R isprovided with a balanced portion Uwhich is adapted to contact with a diaphragm V'sealed on the upperface of the casing G by means of a cover W held in place by suitable bolts X.

The cover W forms a chamber above the diaphragm V and, is provided with a pipe connection Y to a pilot valve Z.

The pilotvalve Z'is adapted to control the flow of motive, fluid from the out-put of the compressor A which is delivered to the re oeiver C andthence to the chamber formed by the diaphragm V and the cover W. To

this end a pipe I) is connected tothe receiver G and to the pilot valve cover 0. The pilot valve Z comprises a-body portiond having a central bore f at the junction of which is formed a seat 9 for a ball check valve h. The cover 0 is screwed to the body member (Z as at y' and holds in place on the body member (Z a perforated diaphragm or strainer 76 through which the air or motive fluid passes from the pipe 6 to the longitudinal central bore 6. The larger bore f of the body member d is threaded to receive a plug 0 having 8. Normally the ball valve is held to its seat 12 of the plug -0 means of a coil spring at in thebore e; The stem 9 has .a longitudinal groove #1 providing a passa eway from the bore fto .an end chamber w in the body portion d and of which the diaphragm 5 forms one side. The chamber w communicates .\v ith atinospherethrough a suitable port 00.

Thus when the valve h is oif its seat p any notivefluid under pressure within the chant her between the diaphragm V and the cover llv may be exhausted to atmosphere by way of thegreove a). The covert is provided with an aperture 3 through which motive fluid under pressure may he admitted from a pipe .2 to actuate the diaphragm ,s.

The admission of motive fluid to the pipe 2. is accomplished by means of an auxiliary valve-2 which may he ofany well known type, such as that shown in Patent No. 1,138,278 granted Lilay 11 15 to J. '11. Castle and XV. G. Rogers. The motive fluid from the receiver C is transmitted .to the auxiliary valve 2 by a pipe 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2 in'whic'h is shown an auxiliary valve designated generally by 2 and which, constructed in accordance with the practice of the aforesaid patent, comprises a casing 4 having a bore 5 therethrough. Inone end of the bore 5 is threaded a plug 6 which serves as a guide for a spring? disposed therein to act against a mo able spr ng .seat '8- In the opposite end of the bore is threaded a hollow plug 1-9 to the outer end of which is onne ted the .pipe'3.

Vi-thin the bore 5 is a valve seat 10 for a valve ll adapted t0 CODtrol the flow of pressure fluid from the receiver to the pilot valve Z and its exhaust from the pilot valve to the atmosphere in a wellunderstpod manner.

In the operation of the compressor, as soon as pressure starts building upin the receiver motivefiuid passes through the pipe 5 and through the strainer k intothe pilot valve Z, thebiifll check"valveh-beingheld oif its seat gay means "of the spring "a; Maiv'eeaia therefore passes into the bore 7 and thence through the pipe Y to the diaphragm V depressing the valve L and permitting cooling water to flow from the pipe F to the pipe D and into the compressor A. When the pressure in the receiver C reaches a predetermined maximum, and at which time the compressor may be automatically unloaded, the auxiliary valve 2 being supplied with motive fluid through the pipe 3 operates and supplies motive fluid .to the pipe 2 and thence to the diaphragm s. The flange r is pressed against by the diaphragm s causing the stem 9 to push the :ball check valve 57b to its seat 9 cutting ofi thesupp'ly of motive :fluid from :the pipe I) to the diaphragm V and allowing the accumulated air in the cover V to escape by way of the groove '0 in the stem 9 to the chamber 10 andthence to atmosphere through the vent po -ts. Since the pressure .on the diaphragm "V is removed the spring 0 presses the valve L to its seat Kcuttling ,ofi thesupply of Water flowing through the chamber H and discon- 1 tinuing the cooling of the'compressor A. It

is understood of course, that this system is preterably associatedwvith any suitable well known type of unloading apparatus (not shown) for the compressor A which discont'inues the out-put of emotive fluid from the compressor A when the pressure in the .receiver C reaches the predetermined maximum at which the auxiliary valve '2 isset to operate. 'Upon lowering of the pressure in the receiver C the auxiliary valve, as is well kn own, returns to its normal position cutting oif the supply of motive fluid to the pipe 2 and exhausting the pressure fluid to atmosphere. Thespring u returns the ball valve 170 to its seat 39 closing communication between the bore f to atmosphere and again allowing netive fluid to pass the seat 9 to operate the diaphragm V depressing the valve L and again establish ngflow of cooling water from I t'lie'supply pipe F to the pipe D.

Thus by the above construction are accomplished among others the objects hereiirbefore referred to.

l-cla m 1. In a cooling water regulating apparatus for compressors and the like, the combination of a water valve, valve means normally open for causing pressure fluid toopen said water valve pressures below a predetermined maximum, and means operable at pressures a'bove a'predetermined maximum to render said last mentioned means inoperative. V

'2. In a cooling water regulating apparatus for compressors andthe like, the combination of a water valve, a pilot valve to open at all pressures below a predetermined maximum t Sup y mo e f bald n sa we were .1 its el e PQ$ U9 1 and. mea s aparable at pressures above a predeterm ned maximum for closing said pilot valve.

3. In a cooling Water regulating apparatus for compressors and the like, the combination of a Water valve, a pilot valve to open at all pressures below a predetermined maximum to supply motive fluid to said valve for holding the same open, and an auxiliary valve operable at pressures above a predetermined maximum for closing said pilot valve.

4. In a cooling Water regulating apparatus for compressors and the like, the combination of a Water valve, a diaphragm for controlling the opening of said valve, a pilot valve to open and to remain open at all pressures beloW a predetermined maximum for admitting motive fluid to said diaphragm to open the Water'valve, and an auxiliary valve for closing said pilot valve.

5. In a cooling Water regulating apparatus for compressors and the like, the combination of a Water valve, a diaphragm connected to the valve for controlling the opening of the same, a pilot valve normally admitting motive fluid to the diaphragm to open the Water valve, an d an auxiliary valve operable at pressures above a predetermined maximum for closing said pilot valve by supplying motive fluid to the same.

6. In a cooling Water regulating apparatus for compressors and the like, the combina tion of a Water valve, a spring biased to its closed position, a diaphragm connected to said valve and adapted when compressed to open the same, a pilot valve to normally occupy an open position for supplying motive fluid to said diaphragm to open the Water valve, said pilot valve being connected to a diaphragm, and an auxiliary valve operable at pressures above a predetermined maximum to supply fluid to said last mentioned diaphragm to close said pilot valve.

7. In a cooling Water regulating appaatus for compressors and the like, the combination of a Water valve, a pilot valve to be normally open to supply motive fluid to the interior of the Water valve to open the same, and means operable at pressures above a predetermined maximum for simultaneously closing said pilot valve and opening the interior of the Water valve to the atmosphere to discharge pressure fluid therein for the passage, a spring tending to close the specification.

JOHN LE VALLEY.

TILJ 

